Index member and adjustable indicator tab therefor



Dec. 29, 1953 B. MELTZER 2,664,089

INDEX MEMBER AND ADJUSTABLE INDICATOR TAB THEREFOR Filed Jan. 5, 1947 Patented Dec. 29, 1953 INDEX MEMBER AND ADJUSTABLE INDICATOR TAB THEREFOR George B. Meltzer, New York, N. Y., assignor to Guide &. Supply co. Inc., New York, N. Y., a. corporation of New York Application January 3, 1947, SerialNo. 719,949

2 Claims.

This invention relates to index members and more particularly to an index member having an indicator tab secured thereto.

It is an object of my invention to provide an index member and an indicator tab wherein the tab may be secured on the index member in any one of a number of predetermined positions.

It is a further object to provide an indicator tab of simple construction and well suited to manufacture by mass production methods.

It is another object of. my invention to provide means whereby my indicator tab may be securely locked in a selected-position on the index member.

With these and other objects in view my invention will now be described in detail in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my invention as applied to a hanging folder;

Fig. 2 is a section thru 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the indicator tab shown in Fig. 1

Figs. 4-7 are each further modifications of the indicator tab;

Fig. 8 is an elevation of a modified form of index member for use with indicator members of the type illustrated in Figs. 1-7.

A detailed description now follows, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

With reference to Figs. 1-3, my invention comprises an index member exemplified as the fibrous hanging folder ill of Fig. 1. Front and rear reinforcements I l and I6, respectively, of sheet metal are disposed at the transverse edges of folder It in a conventional manner. A series of equally spaced perforations I8 are provided in the material of folder In, such perforations being bounded by reinforcement I6 and having one side contiguous therewith. An inverted V-shaped indicator tab bent at 2| and 22 and comprised of sheet metal or other ductile material is disposed astraddle the edge reinforcement IS. The legs 23 and 26 of tab 23 are provided with attachment means such as lugs 21 and perforations 28, respectively, the construction and arrangement being such that the lugs 21 are substantially aligned with corresponding perforations 28, and

the spacing between lugs 21 is equal to that between the perforations in the index member Ill. Accordingly, it will be understood that the tab 20 with legs 23 and 26 suitably spread may be set astraddle edge It at any selected position, lugs 21 then being thrust thru respective perforations l3 and thence thru perforations 28 by manually squeezing legs 23 and 26 together,

thereby gripping edge It between them. In the.

as shown. It will be understood that the structure is provided with sufficient play to achieve this effect by disposing the bend lines 2| and 22 with due regardto the vertical length of lugs 21 and the width of edge It, so that after the lugs have been disposed thru the perforations 18, the tab 23 may be raised slightly to bring about the overlappingrelationship between lugs 21 and reinforceinent It, as well as to align bend lines 2| and 22 with the top of reinforcement IS. The foregoing is an important practical feature, since by subsequently locking legs 23 and 26 against spreading, the indicator tab is firmly secured on reinforcing edge H5.

The form of locking means shown in Figs. 1-3 comprises a detent member such as the lock bar 32 which is essentially a fiat strip of sheet metal or the like slidably retained on leg 26 by means of an elongated strap 35 formed of the material of the leg. Bar 32 slides longitudinally with respect to strap 35, and is retained against loss by means of raised teats or bosses 38 pressed out of the material of the bar on either side of strap 35. The distance between bosses 38 is such as to allow some pivotal motion of bar 32 to expedite manipulation in wedging the bar between lugs 21 and the outer surface of leg 26. It will be appreciated that the length of strap 35 is sufiicient to permit bar 32 to clear perforations 28, by upward movement, at the time the tab 20 is being positioned on reinforcement IS, the bar being subsequently forced down into engagement with lugs 21 whereby the natural resiliency of the parts effects a rigidly locked condition.

The form of tab shown in Fig. 4 differs from that of Figs. 1-3 in the use of three lugs 21 instead of two. In such case two straps 35 are provided, each boss 38 being disposed to engage the inner. edge of a respective strap. Obviously, lock bar 32 is extended to engage the three lugs 21.

Fig. 5 is a modification wherein a pair of lock bars. 40 are pivotally retained on leg 26, being arranged to engage lugs 21 by pivotal motion from the dotted to the full line position.

Fig. 6 illustrates a further modification wherein straps 43 struck from the material of leg 23 (not shown) are utilized in a manner similar to lugs 21 of previous embodiments. In the present case, however, the straps 43 protrude thru leg 26 and a separable lock bar 45 of general U-shape is disposed with its legs underneath the straps to lock the tab in place. Bar 45 may be comprised of a suitably bent wire rod.

Fig. 7 discloses an embodiment utilizing straps 43 struck from leg 23 (not shown) and protruding thru leg 26, wherein the openings provided by the straps are arranged vertically and aligned so that a separable lock bar 50 may be thrust therethrough.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a modification of the index member to the extent that the perforations [8 in fibrous sheet In are brought into register with slots or serrations 53 in the lower edge of reinforcement l6. Such structural change affords a keying of lugs 27 (not shown) as a restraint against transverse motion against the metallic edges of serrations 53 which are normally more resistant to wear and tear than the fibrous edges of perforations [8.

It will be appreciated that many modifications of my teaching are possible and accordingly I do not intend to be bound by the specific illustrations hereinabove described except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An indicator member comprising a leg mem ber, protruding attachment means carried by said leg member, a lock bar permanently carried by said indicator member and being movably engageable with said protruding attachment means, said indicator member having means for guiding said lock bar into engagement with said protruding attachment means, said means for guiding said lock bar comprising a strap formed from the material of said indicator member, said lock bar being slidably retained by said strap.

2. An indicator member comprising a leg member, protruding attachment means carried by said leg member, a lock bar permanently carried by said indicator member and being movably engageable with said protruding attachment means, said indicator member having means for guiding said lock bar into engagement with said protruding attachment means, said means for guiding said lock bar comprising an elongated strap formed from the material of said indicator member, said lock bar being slidably retained on said indicator member by said strap, and means on said lock bar slidably engaging said strap to restrain said lock bar to substantially longitudinal motion with respect to said strap.

GEORGE B. MELTZER.

References Cited in the file 01. this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 763,323 Reed June 21, 1904 1,127,481 Mays Feb. 9, 1915 1,464,178 Gowran Aug. 7, 1923 1,790,451 Wagner Jan. 27, 1931 2,062,436 Yawman Sept. 12, 1939 2,289,577 Jonas July 14, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 218,898 Switzerland Apr. 16, 1942 238,245 Switzerland Oct. 1, 1945 

